YANKEE NOTES TAMPA – After laying out close to $86 million for players, the Yankees are searching for ways to reduce expenses. Hot water, fresh towels and an impressive spread in the Legends Field clubhouse remain, but the belt-tightening has started elsewhere before reliever Darren Holmes is dealt.

According to several industry sources, the Post has learned that the world champions have sent advance scouts Bob Didier and Wade Taylor home for the remainder of spring training.

“They were told it was for monetary reasons,” the source said. “Imagine that, all the money they spend and they cut back on the scouts.”

According to a source, Steinbrenner asked Gene Michael, who runs the Yanks’ major league scouting department, Sunday for his scouts’ schedule for the rest of the spring.

Didier and Taylor were in camp before the exhibition games started. Their jobs during the season require them to scout upcoming opponents and file reports that are relayed to the Yankee pitchers and hitters. *Hideki Irabu’s back problem won’t keep him from starting tomorrow against the Red Sox in Ft. Myers.

“I feel better,” said Irabu, who shut down a Sunday bullpen session after seven minutes due to discomfort on the left side of his back near the rib cage. “I don’t think it was an injury, just tightness after the first time I pitched.”

Irabu worked three scoreless innings Friday against the Blue Jays in his first spring outing.